Research Funding Available for Preeclampsia and Related Pregnancy Disorders

Last Updated on Thursday, March 06, 2014

Preeclampsia Foundation’s research investment catalyzes new approaches to life-threatening complication of pregnancy

New Orleans, Louisiana – February 5, 2014 – The Preeclampsia Foundation announced today at the 34th Annual Meeting of the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine that competitive funding is available for preeclampsia research, and that applications are now being accepted for its 2014 Vision Grant program. Up to two medical research grants will be awarded, up to $25,000 each. Vision Grants are intended to provide initial funding for innovative research focused on the pathophysiology, diagnosis or treatment of preeclampsia, HELLP syndrome and other hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. All novel, well-considered research topics will be evaluated, although projects that demonstrate potential to alter clinical management and improve patient outcomes will receive priority. Preference is given to junior investigators, although senior investigators with innovative, high-risk proposals will also be considered. International applications will be accepted, but they must be in English.

Since its inception, the Preeclampsia Foundation’s Vision Grant program has invested over $500,000 in novel research - ranging from molecular biology and immunology, to potential therapies, to the role of sleep-disordered breathing in preeclampsia. Each year, dozens of proposals are received from applicants around the world. Research initiated by the Vision Grant program has yielded many promising findings, which have, in turn, generated additional funding from the National Institutes of Health, earned scientific presentations at major conferences, and inspired young investigators to commit their efforts to a medical conundrum that has baffled the medical community for over 2,400 years.

“I’m impressed by the breadth and quality of applications we receive,” remarked Dr. Thomas Easterling, director of the Preeclampsia Foundation’s Medical Advisory Board. “Our interest is in funding creative minds, early in their careers, who have the potential to make an impact if given a start, a leg up. This has proven to be a fruitful approach for the Foundation.”

About the Vision Grant Award Program: According to the World Health Organization, preeclampsia is one of the least funded areas of research, especially when considered against Disability Adjusted Life Years (DALYs). The Preeclampsia Foundation’s Vision Grants fund medical research pertaining to the pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy.

About Preeclampsia: Preeclampsia is a disorder that occurs during pregnancy and the immediate postpartum period, and affects both the mother and the fetus. It is a rapidly progressive condition characterized by elevated blood pressure and protein in the urine; other symptoms may include swelling in the hands and face, headaches, and visual disturbances. Preeclampsia affects the mother's kidneys, liver and other vital organs and, if undetected or untreated, can lead to seizures (eclampsia), cerebral hemorrhage, failure in vital organs and death. The cause of preeclampsia is still not fully understood, and the only cure for the condition begins with delivery. Approximately five to eight percent of pregnancies are affected by preeclampsia, which, in the United States, translates to approximately 300,000 pregnancies. It is a leading cause of preterm birth, and is responsible for approximately 76,000 maternal deaths and half a million infant deaths worldwide annually. There are several types of preeclampsia, including HELLP syndrome, a particularly dangerous variant.

About the Preeclampsia Foundation: The Preeclampsia Foundation is a U.S.-based 501(c)(3) non-profit organization established in 2000. It is dedicated to providing patient support and education, raising public awareness, catalyzing research and improving health care practices, envisioning a world where preeclampsia and related hypertensive disorders of pregnancy no longer threaten the lives of mothers and babies. For more information, visit www.preeclampsia.org.

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